It’s an alchemic question that’s very hard for us to answer: what makes a great TED talk?

In this talk, which was given to a gathering of 100+ TEDx organizers from 43 countries during the TEDx Workshop at TEDGlobal 2013, our curator Chris Anderson stresses the incredible power of a well-structured, honest talk.

“We’re giving someone a new worldview that, 30 years later, might make them think differently, might make them act differently,” says Anderson in this video. “Sometimes I think a TED Talk is like playing Tetris with the brain. All these ideas are coming in and you’re trying to fit them in and slot them so that they are received.”

Watch the talk above to hear what Anderson considers the key to a good talk — taking the audience on a journey. In it, he shares his advice on how to do so authentically, without forcing it.

Watching curator Chris Anderson in speaker rehearsals before a TED conference feels like witnessing the zen of a longtime coach who knows his sport both inside out and backwards. Whenever a trial run of a talk feels just a little askew, a few simple sentences are whispered. Magically, the next time the talk is given […]

TED curator Chris Anderson took to Twitter earlier today, spending an hour answering any question thrown his way by a TED enthusiast. The questions ranged from, “How will Americans respond to TED’s move to Vancouver?” to “Have you ever had someone present in sign language? See a full recap of the conversation here and, below, […]

alexswallowcommented on Jul 25 2013

pammingecommented on Jul 25 2013

Reblogged this on lab ant and commented:
talking to other human beings has the potential to change people for ever. This was an inspiring TED talk. Its such an important skill to communicate your ideas.